Biratnagar, January 6:

Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-D) activists of Morang vandalised the District Forest Office DFO) yesterday after district vice-president of the party, Nandu Sardar, was taken under control by the DFO on charges of timber smuggling.

Around 200 NC-D activists led by Umesh Yadav vandalised the DFO, district forest officer Mohan Koirala said.

Koirala said DFO took Sardar under control as per law.

The Belbari Range Post under the DFO seized the tractor (Ko 1 3673) with around 42 cubic feet of timber from Chisang Khola of Keraun VDC in Morang with the help of locals and officials of local and arrested tractor driver from the spot yesterday, Koirala said.

The timber was hidden in sand and crushed stone, he added.

However, NC-D activists alleged that Sardar was wrongfully blamed for timber smuggling to tarnish his image.